Dan D'Addona: Never doubt grass-Fed

Monday

Jul 7, 2014 at 5:56 PMJul 7, 2014 at 5:56 PM

So much for Roger Federer's career being over.After nearly two years of hearing critics talk about his quick downslide and Rafael Nadal's impending takeover as the best tennis player in history, Federer quieted all doubters in Sunday's Wimbledon final — and he didn't even win.Federer lost to top-seeded Novak Djokovic in an epic five-set match 6-7 (7), 6-4, 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-4, reminiscent of a few Federer-Nadal battles at the height of Federer's game.But Federer isn't at the height of his game anymore.It has been two years since he has reached a major final, but he proved he is still a factor and still one of the elite players in the game with his performance Sunday — just a month shy of his 33rd birthday.He was down 5-2 in the fourth set and surged back to win it and force a fifth set against seven-time major champion Djokovic.If Federer had won, he would have been the oldest man in more than 50 years to win. And he would have won a record eight titles.But he still got a victory Sunday, erasing the doubts of the many after he became a father of his second set of twins, had divided focus between tennis and family — and started to get up there in age as far as tennis goes.Looking back, it is amazing Federer was written about so harshly after a few early exits in grand slam events.Here is the best and most respected tennis player in the game's history and he has been overly criticized for age — something he can't control — and divided attention with family affecting his game.Only an individual sport can put a person under the microscope like this.But imagine getting criticized day after day at your job for getting older and your performance somewhat declining because your attention is divided between your growing family of four children.Seems silly.But when you are at the top of a sport, the only place to go is down — sometimes in a hurry.History has seen it happen to most athletes at the top of their sports as younger athletes in their prime take over.Willie Mays. Mickey Mantle. Michael Phelps. Joe Montana.Very few athletes retire at the top.Nobody remembers Mays as a Met or Montana with the Chiefs.When Federer's career is all said and done, nobody is going to remember the two years of struggles.They are going to remember all of those 17 major championships.Maybe even remember how when no one expected the Federer of old, he delivered it one more time.— Contact Sports Editor Dan D'Addona at Dan.D'Addona@hollandsentinel.com or (616) 546-4276. Follow him on Twitter @DanDAddona and Facebook at Holland Sentinel Sports.